Banned skin creams have been openly sold in beauty shops in Birmingham, a BBC TV investigation has found.

Researchers from Inside Out West Midlands went into four shops during undercover filming. Eighteen banned creams were found in three hours.

Some creams used for lightening the skin contain toxic substances.

Trading standards officers said they will investigate the information and want to raise awareness about illegal products among retailers.

Inside Out researchers visited a selection of beauty shops in the north of the city.

They found four shops were selling a number of products containing Hydroquinone, a banned bleaching agent.

Chris Neville, from Birmingham trading standards, told the BBC: "We'll certainly investigate the particular complaints that you've unearthed, the particular products, with a view to determining whether somebody should be prosecuted for this sale.

"I think we're also going to undertake an awareness campaign amongst businesses who are selling these kinds of products to try and make them aware that they are illegal."